It is a disgrace in a nation claiming to be “democratic” that anti-union laws permit a judge to grant an injunction stopping an otherwise lawful strike, supported overwhelmingly (89.1%) in a ballot, where 74% of the affected workers voted, far exceeding the Tories’ 50% turnout hurdle. This is Britain today. The CWU has made clear that its fight goes on. The LRC offers solidarity to all CWU members in dispute with Royal Mail and asks all our supporters to do the same, starting with passing the motion below at Labour Party meetings.

SUPPORT FOR POSTAL WORKERS

This Labour Party notes that:

on 3rd October 2017 the CWU announced an 89% Yes vote, on a 74% turnout, for strike action in Royal Mail in the first national dispute since privatisation.

Postal workers in Royal Mail are coming under increasing pressure to work harder and faster for less with: cuts to their pension entitlements of up to 45%; pay freezes while the cost of living continues to rise; and attempts to unpick industrial agreements that prevent Royal Mail from embracing the insecure employment models that characterise much of the postal industry today.

Royal Mail is seeking to maintain a strategy of minimising costs, maximising profit and increasing shareholder return year on year and their failure to develop a diversified product portfolio and new revenue streams means that their strategy can only be achieved by attacking employment models and terms and conditions, but also via worsening the service to make their operations cheaper.

This Labour Party believes that:

following an overwhelming ballot result Royal Mail should have listened to its staff and recognised the need to shift its position, instead of taking them to court to secure an injunction to delay strike action.

Royal Mail should never have been privatised. Alongside the increasing pressure on staff and their terms and conditions, the public are seeing price increases, cuts to services – for instance, with delivery office closures across the country – and asset stripping with over £200m worth of property having been sold off.

This is the familiar story of privatisation, with hedge funds and senior executives reaping the rewards. In just three and a half years Royal Mail has paid out over £620m in dividends to private shareholders – just under £500,000 every day – and last year alone Royal Mail’s CEO saw her pay packet increase by 23%.

Royal Mail is an important public service and part of our national infrastructure that should be re-nationalised by a Labour government and brought back together with the Post Office in public ownership at the earliest opportunity.

This Labour Party therefore resolves to:

contact local CWU postal branches to express support for CWU members in the current dispute.

Mobilise support for future picket lines.

Take a solidarity photo at this meeting to be shared on social media tagging @cwunews.

Ask local Labour MPs and councillors to make clear statements in support of CWU members in Royal Mail.

Some members of Withdean Branch Labour Party showing their support for CWU members in dispute with Royal Mail.

Labour’s 2017 manifesto showed that a Corbyn-led Labour Government will represent the working class, rather than serve the privileged elite. Labour is pledged to end austerity, fight racism, return key assets like our railways to public ownership, save others like our Fire Service and Post Offices, and rid Britain of anti-union laws. Discuss how best to push forward now for a Labour Government implementing the democratic socialist policies in Labour’s 2017 manifesto which received popular support from voters.

Refreshments will be available when doors open at 6.15pm, with the meeting starting promptly at 6.30pm. With so many great speakers, you will not want to be late!

As 2017 TUC Congress arrives in Brighton, the LRC fringe meeting will focus on uniting the labour movement to get the Tories out and put Labour into government. Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn has stood in solidarity with countless strikers and offered the hand of friendship to as many campaigns. Labour’s 2017 manifesto showed that a Corbyn-led Labour Government will represent the working class, rather than serve the privileged elite. Labour is pledged to end austerity, fight racism, return key assets like our railways to public ownership, save others like our Fire Service and Post Offices, and rid Britain of anti-union laws. The LRC says: Let’s Unite our Movement to Defeat Austerity and Get the Tories Out!

Hear top speakers including: Mark Serwotka – PCS General Secretary, Matt Wrack – FBU General Secretary, Maria Exall – CWU Executive, Ronnie Draper – BFAWU General Secretary, Debbie Reay – Chair ASLEF Women’s Committee, and Laura Watson, spokeswoman for the English Collective of Prostitutes. Brighton Kemptown’s Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle sends his apologies since a three line whip, imposed on MPs for the latest vote on Brexit, will keep him late at Westminster.

Refreshments will be available when doors open at 6.15pm, with the meeting starting at 6.30pm. With these great speakers, this is an unmissable event!

The next step in airport expansion has arrived with the Tories’ draft National Policy Statement (NPS) being put out for public consultation. As the next step in the expansion of Heathrow Airport., the consultation asks people whether they would prefer another runway at Heathrow or Gatwick. Despite the Government’s decision to favour Heathrow, this question had to be included or the Government risked being forced to re-issue the consultation by the courts with Gatwick included – as happened in 2003.

The LRC opposes airport expansion at both Heathrow and Gatwick.Day in, day out, the majority of people urgently require a cheap, efficient, accessible, fully integrated public transport system.That is the LRC’s transport priority, not airport expansion which primarily serves only the needs of the wealthy and business, while providing no answers to questions of air quality, noise pollution and climate change.

Locally, Sussex LRC shares the concerns of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) that during the NPS consultation process thousands of people around Heathrow may be encouraged to ‘vote for Gatwick’ by the campaigns of the London councils and the Mayor of London, as well as the high profile lobbying and advertising campaign being run by Gatwick Airport itself.The consultation asks people whether they would prefer the Heathrow runway or a Gatwick runway. This is a classic example of divide and rule.We should be united in opposing any airport expansion at both Gatwick and Heathrow.

Please respond to the NPS consultation before it closes on 25 May, emphasising the environmental disadvantages of Gatwick expansion and exposing the inaccuracies in the pro-Gatwick case. Sussex needs to show strong opposition to expansion at Gatwick, without abandoning our friends at Heathrow. It is not for us to campaign in favour of a new Heathrow runway.

Find out much more about these and other issues connected with Gatwick Airport via the GACC website and more generally from campaigners Plane Stupid.

Please show solidarity with ASLEF members at picket lines outside stations when Southern train drivers strike again on 10, 11, 13, 24, 25 and 27 January 2017 and support any future actions by both ASLEF and the RMT against driver-only operation. The LRC has stood many times with Southern guards who have been striking in defence of rail safety and to protect equality of access to train services since early 2016. We fully support the RMT’s campaign the Keep the Guard on the Train.

Rail workers and unions stand united together, putting people before profit

In the short term handing the franchise to Transport for London could bring some improvements but, ultimately, the UK’s railways must be returned to public ownership to be run in the interests of people and environment, and not for the short term goals of private profit, shareholders’ dividends and management bonuses. Thankfully Labour’s Leader Jeremy Corbyn is committed to a People’s Railway policy. So we can be sure that, with Jeremy at the helm, the next Labour Government will carry out the Party’s longstanding and popular policy to rebuild Britain’s rail network by returning it to public ownership, as part of a policy to transform public transport into an integrated, green, efficient and affordable system.

LRC members, friends from the English Collective of Prostitutes and other Corbyn supporters celebrate the election of Jeremy Corbyn outside Labour’s Special Conference on 12 September 2015

With Jeremy Corbyn re-elected as Labour Leader, Sussex LRC and friends want to encourage Labour members and supporters to get more involved in their Party. We’re holding participatory workshops designed for all socialists who want to learn more about Labour and how the Party works. Our aim is to demystify Labour’s structures from branches to the NEC, and help people feel confident joining-in or leading Labour activities, whether that’s speaking at a meeting, proposing a motion, leafleting, running a street stall, going canvassing, standing for election (perhaps as an officer, conference delegate, or councillor), or whatever you want to do.

These workshops are aimed at new members and members returning after many years, but you’re also welcome to contact us if you’re thinking of joining Labour, or are a long-term member with questions about the Party. The same content will be covered in each session.

The first session will focus on Brighton & Hove branches and constituencies. It is open to people outside Brighton & Hove, but future sessions are being planned with local groups across Sussex which may be more convenient.

Jeremy Corbyn’s re-election as Labour Leader is a victory for socialist politics. The LRC wants to see a Corbyn-led Labour government committed to transformative policies. To achieve this goal the LRC appeals to everyone who has been inspired by Jeremy to join (or return to) Labour, to now get active and involved in the Labour Party and their unions, in order to win the battle of ideas.

In Corbyn and McDonnell, the Labour Party has leaders with the collective will to implement democratic socialist policies in government. Now Labour’s leaders need to be supported by members informed and empowered to run campaigns and meetings which will inspire voters to support Labour.

If you want to change the Labour Party, you have to change its rules. Sussex LRC aims to help members learn about Labour’s rules and how they operate, so that together we can make Labour a truly democratic party, where policy is determined from members-up by a democratic conference.

The workshops are free but donations to cover venue hire and other costs will be welcome.

NOTE: Entry to Community Base is via the South Wing door. The workshop is being held in the 5th floor conference room, which can be accessed via the lift or stairs.

Leafleters and all supporters will be appreciated by RMT members who normally work as guards on Southern Rail. They have our full support for their ongoing strike action, being taken in defence of everyone’s safety on our railway.

Everybody should ask why Southern Rail management refused to settle this dispute by rejecting a new package offered by RMT, having previously also refused the same terms agreed between ScotRail and RMT. Walking away from talks aimed at averting further strikes shows Southern Rail management has no concern for the massive disruption being caused to the travelling public, which has led to the company being dubbed #SouthernFail.

The failing rail privateer was forced to withdraw its media campaign against staff but it remains impervious to public opinion that wants to “keep the guard on the train” for people’s safety and security, and has issued an ultimatum to staff accompanied by what some describe as a bribe and threats.